What is prefetch and will it harm my computer?
The prefetch folder is used to help speed up the loading of programs; XP (or 2003) will load programs it thinks you need before you ask for them yourself. If XP tries to prefetch applications you don’t regularly use, then you may be wasting memory. To get to prefetch – Start=> Run=> Type in Prefetch…To delete Ctrl +A then Del. Reboot, re-launch your programs and you are back in business. Programs no longer used often will remain dormant until used again. Caution: You shouldn’t delete these files often because then your system is constantly taxed in creating the files and then you deleting them. This of course will put a strain on your hard disk and leave you needing another defrag. Use this tweak sparingly, The Prefetch folder is auto cleaned after 128 entries have been reached down to the 32 most used applications. Since it auto cleans itself I personally do not recommend this, and I think most techs will agree.
